Seems like Business2.0 is allowing most or all of its columnists to go Om Malik; that is, allow them to publish their own branded blogs, but through the business2.0 brand.
Their rationale?
Why are we doing this? Primarily because we think blogging will make us better journalists. Blogging about a subject on a daily basis is a great way to become an expert on that subject and stay in front of the news in that particular niche. It’s also a great way for journalists like us who work at a monthly magazine to engage in a more immediate conversation with our readers. People love to debate about the merits of blogging versus journalism, but I believe that distinction is going away. Some bloggers are already great journalists, and some journalists (we hope) will become great bloggers.
[Emphasis mine]
Well, you certainly can’t argue with those reasons.
In light of my own opinions about blogging, journalism and what the difference is, I think bloggerizing journalists is probably a good thing. Hell — some of them have been at it for a while on their own and doing a damn good job of it.
While assuming that bloggers have no sense of ethics and while all journalists DO is plainly wrong, I’m hoping that bringing professional journos into the mix does bring a sense of … well, professionalism to the blogosphere.
On the other hand, the cynics among us will also say “well, they want to Om-ify their staff, so they can avoid them all jumping ship” [Om Malik was a senior editor with Business 2.0, and jumped ship to blog on his own at the esteemed GigaOm]. To quote …
and our blogger journalists will get a modest bonus tied to the popularity of each of their blogs. (Yes, we believe blogging is hard work and that bloggers should get paid for that work)
The question is will a “modest bonus” be enough to quench the thirst for blogging juice (if it exists)? Will it slake the hankering to enter the A-list of bloggers (if they want the attention)? Or will it only stoke those dreams as Malik and Arrington dance before their eyes (… I don’t want to see Arrington or Malik dancing, actually)?
Well, you’ve got to give them credit for trying. ;)
10 Comments
Thanks Tony :-)
What can I say?
I calls’em as I sees’em.
In other news — Amber Mac made the jump from blogger to journo (CP24). Look forward to an interview with her in the upcoming days / weeks.
Cheers
t @ dji
excellent recap tony, love the blog, and of course even i don’t want to see me dancing.
Ha ha ha — thanks for stopping by Om.
Are you stopping by Mesh 2007 this year?
Cheers
t @ dji
PS are you sure about the dancing?
absolutely – mark evans signed me up, and looking forward to 2007 mesh
Absolutely sure about the dancing — or coming up to Mesh? :)
Well, maybe we’ll just hold you to the dancing AT Mesh 2007.
(get your videologs ready everyone!)
…
(wait ’till valleywag gets a hold of this one)
tony,
it’s one thing for magazines, newspapers, etc. to announce plans for their journalists to write blogs, it’s another story when it comes to how passionately their writers embrace blogs. you have to remember newsrooms are getting smaller so reporters are being asked to do more – whether it’s covering several beats, writing quick hits for the web, doing podcasts, etc. at some point, there just isn’t enough of a carrot (other than, i guess, the right to keep your job) to get writers to do more. that said, the business 2.0 model could work given it’s a monthly magazine but i don’t this “religion” will spread to newspapers until reporters are told it’s an essential part of their jobs.
Hey — fair enough. For some its just a job and only a job; and you’re right … can’t expect *EVERYONE* to be drinking the kool-aid, can we?
(pauses to take a giant sip)
I for one would pay money to watch Om do the Macarena :-)
Can anyone say “Fabulous Keynote Speaker Idea for Mesh 2007?!”
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[...] News recounts how Business2.0 has finally doled out cheques to its writers who are now blogging. I’ve written about it before — and it seems like part of their rationale for this is that they’re a little fearful [...]